Match report.
Yorkshire U14 Development vs Leicestershire U14, held at Sheffield & Phoenix CC on Sunday 8th July 2018.
Yorkshire 257-8 (George Barden 89, Kshitij Kapote 59*, James Blackburn 35) beat Leicestershire 202-8 (James Blackburn 3-29, Mansoor Shinwari 3-54) by 55 runs.
Yorkshire U14 Development got their own back on Leicestershire on Sunday in a 40-over contest in the sweltering heat of their home rematch in Sheffield.
Upon winning the toss, Yorkshire captain George Booth elected to bat on what looked a very good wicket, in ideal conditions for batting. The Yorkshire openers began very positively, playing with intent and being duly rewarded for their stroke-making by the lightning fast outfield. Sadly, Kieran Donnachie (16) fell trying to put away yet another short ball to leave Yorkshire at 21-1. George Barden joined James Blackburn at the crease. Both batsmen looked supremely assured as they pushed the total past 100 by the half way stage. Blackburn fell with the score on 112, for a well-made 35, shortly after drinks and a mini-collapse followed, which left Yorkshire teetering on 146-5 as Kshitij Kapote strode out to bat. Despite the fall of wickets at the other end, Barden had batted superbly and was now well past his 50 and accelerating ideally for the situation. Barden and Kapote latched onto nearly every loose delivery as the score shot past 200 before Barden was dismissed for an excellent 89 from just 85 balls. Kapote pressed on, ending on a brutal 59* from 38 balls - well supported by debutant Jasper Male (8) and Alfie Spencer (4) who both found the fielders playing the big shots to push the score on. Yorkshire finished on a very impressive 257-8 after a top batting display, where everyone played for the team rather than any personal goals.
In reply, Yorkshire opened the bowling with debutant Mansoor Shinwari and skipper George Booth. Shinwari began with an exceptionally hostile spell, dismissing the dangerous Leicestershire opener, Aryan Patel; who attempted to fend away a short ball with just three runs on the board - only to find Lewis Hogg, who made a great diving catch. Shinwari soon had another, dismissing the number three. The change bowlers; Kapote, Hogg and Spencer worked hard in the heat to keep Leicestershire well under the rate, whilst picking up a couple of wickets as the game ground on. Towards the end of the innings, some excellent spin bowling from young James Blackburn (3-29), combined with sharp work behind the stumps from Jasper Male and tireless work from all the fielders, left Leicestershire with too many to get. Shinwari (3-54) returned to take a final wicket before the Leicestershire opener, Vaughan Schofield (who had batted all the way through), completed his century in the final over as Leicestershire closed on 202-8.
It had been an excellent game of cricket and great performance from Yorkshire - who all worked exceptionally hard for one another in what was a top team effort.
Full scorecard available HERE.
The next U14 Development fixture sees Yorkshire travel to Lancashire for a T20 day on 19th July.